Firestone is moving quickly to control development in and around the fast-growing southwestern Weld County community, even if that means alarming its largest neighbor — Longmont.
The Firestone Town Board on Monday approved a new master plan that extends the town’s boundaries to Longmont’s border on Colorado 119.
And tonight, the town’s planning and zoning commission will consider recommending the annexation of Fairview Acres, a 74-acre development that hugs the eastern edge of Longmont’s city limits.
Firestone — with a population of 9,000 — is trying to make sure growth surrounding the town in incorporated Weld County is orderly and beneficial, Mayor Mike Simone said.
“When the county was approving all the urban growth adjacent to our borders, we were worried it was done haphazardly,” Simone said. “This is our way of controlling that.”
Besides Fairview Acres, Firestone also wants to annex LifeBridge Christian Church’s 350-acre Union development, which is also adjacent to Longmont. If Firestone annexes either development, it will be the first time another community has shared a border with Longmont.
That has unnerved Longmont officials, who want the city to remain a “free-standing community.”
“The absence of discussions between Longmont and Firestone and the speed of the process Firestone is taking raises deep concern for the city of Longmont,” Longmont Mayor Roger Lange said in a March 6 letter to Firestone.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
